The province of Quebec is losing more of its allophone population due to interprovincial migration, according to the latest data from the latest National Household Survey.
While the net loss of Anglophones has continued to decline – 5,695 from 2011 to 2006 compared to 7,810 from 2001 to 2006 – the trends in allophone migration have experts growing concerned.
Quebec’s allophones (those whose mother tongue is neither English nor French) have been increasingly leaving the province – usually headed to other provinces that have traditionally been more welcoming to non-francophones. Over the past five years there has been a net loss of 12,285 allophones.
Other data from the Survey shows some of the reasons this might be happening. Immigrants to Montreal – where the vast majority of newcomers to Quebec choose to settle – are significantly less likely to find employment in that city than any other major city in the country.
Furthermore, recent accommodation controversies – in what contexts should the hijab or niqab be removed, for instance – as well as a renewed “crackdown” on language usage have helped create an environment that some newcomers might not find very welcoming.
However, experts argue that more should be done to attract and retain these immigrants, whose skills and experience could bring many advantages to the province. As the population growth in Quebec continues to stagnate, the province will need to find a way to remain competitive if it hopes to keep up economically with the rest of the country.
Source: Calgary Herald
